MONTGOMERY NAMED KJCCC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Montgomery, a 5-foot-11, 218-pound freshman from Grayson, Georgia, was named the 2018 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year when the 2018 all-conference team was announced. In addition to Montgomery earning one of the three major league awards, five other Blue Dragons were named to the first team, six were named to the second team and 11 earned honorable mention status.

Montgomery is the first Blue Dragon to earn Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors since Marquavius Lewis in 2014. He is the third Blue Dragon in the Rion Rhoades era to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award.

Montgomery has had a tremendous freshman season for a Blue Dragon defense that ranked in the Top 2 of 3 of the 4 major defensive categories in the Jayhawk Conference and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in rush defense.

For the season, Montgomery led the Blue Dragons with 79 total tackles, including 42 unassisted tackles. He had 15 tackles for loss, five quarterback sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and four quarterback hurries.

Montgomery tied a Blue Dragon single-game record with 24 tackles in a 24-21 loss to Garden City on November 3. He also had three defensive touchdowns, including two in one game against Dodge City on October 20. Montgomery was part of a fourth defensive touchdown when he had an interception and lateraled to Kelvin Clemmons in a win at then No. 5 Independence on September 1.

Montgomery was named the Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Week three different times and was the NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week twice.

FIRST-TEAM SELECTIONSJaylen Erwin (Receiver - 6-0, 174, So., Charlotte, NC) – Erwin had 21 receptions for 426 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns. Erwin averaged 20.3 yards per receptions this season. Erwin was also named an honorable mention performance as a return specialist. He averaged 19.9 yards on 10 kickoff returns and 15.0 yards on six punt returns with a 74-yard touchdown.

Leroy Watson (Tight End - 6-5, 266, So., Snellville, GA) – A great blocking tight end, Watson had six catches for 88 yards and one touchdown.

Ousman Traore (Guard - 6-4, 327, Fr., College Park, GA) – Started all 11 games and led the way for a 1,000-yard running back and an offense that scored 34.8 points and averaged 374.8 yards per game.

SECOND-TEAM SELECTIONSDezmon Jackson (Running Back - 6-0, 219, So., El Dorado, AR) – Became the first Blue Dragon 1,000-yard rusher since 2012. Jackson had 1,056 won 140 carries with a team-high 12 touchdowns. Jackson was a three-time Offensive Player of the Week and was the league special teams' player of the week once.

Jason Toussaint (Guard - 6-2, 308, Fr., Apopka, FL) – Started all 11 games and led the way for a 1,000-yard running back and an offense that scored 34.8 points and averaged 374.8 yards per game.

Robert Mervin (Center - 6-3, 315, So., Dumfries, GA) – Started all 11 games and led the way for a 1,000-yard running back and an offense that scored 34.8 points and averaged 374.8 yards per game.

Clarence Hicks (Defensive End - 6-2, 224, Fr., Pensacola, FL) – Led the Blue Dragons with 12 quarterback sacks. He had 21.5 tackles for loss and 36 total tackles.

Caliph Brice (Linebacker - 6-2, 217, So., Rock Hill, SC) – Was second on the team with 66 tackles. He also led the Blue Dragons with two blocked kicks.

Kelvin Clemmons (Safety - 6-2, 199, So., Lutz, FL) – Was in on 24 tackles and a team-high 13 passes broken up. He also had one defensive touchdown.

Erin Collins (Running Back - 6-0, 214, So., Plant City, FL) – Played in only two games, but was loss because of an injury. Collins had two 100-yard rushing games and rushed for 233 yards with four touchdowns and a 5.4 yard-per-carry average.

Khalil McClain (Receiver- 6-4, 222, Fr., Fairburn, GA) – Led the Blue Dragons with 27 receptions and 453 yards with five touchdowns. He rushed for 129 yards this season.

Paiton Fears (Tackle - 6-5, 327, Fr., Minneola, FL) – Started all 11 games and led the way for a 1,000-yard running back and an offense that scored 34.8 points and averaged 374.8 yards per game.